Getting Results

Just reading a book, or listening to someone speak on a tape does not guarantee success. If that were true, everyone would get 100's on tests. The truth is, you have to have some kind of structure to your learning. By structure, we mean a plan and an atmnosphere condusive to learning.

For example, if you buy a book or a course on Customer Service Training, but elect to read the book while you are mowing the lawn or playing with your kids, you are not likely to achieve great results. The same thing goes for taking cell phone calls or interruptions from co-workers, family or friends while you are reading. You need to pay attention and you need to concentrate on what you are doing. Learning customer service training skills is not time consuming or very difficult. In fact, it can be very easy and very enjoyable at the same time.

Here are a few tips to get the best results in the shortest period of time:

1) Arrange a quiet time where you will have no interruptions - Tell co-workers and family that you will be unavailable except for emegencies for the next hour or two. Then turn off the cell phone, the pager, shut off the e-mail screen and anything else that provides a distraction. In other words, make your environment condusive to learning.

2) Create a schedule - few of us are able to read, and absorb, an entire book in one sitting. We often need several days or sessions to finsih a book. It is important, though, to make sure those sessions are not too far apart. You will get little from a book if you read chapter 1 in 2012, chapter 2 in 2013, etc. The sessions should be somewhat close together. That being said, if you can spare only one day a week to train, you can work with that. In those cases, try and make each session a little longer so you can learn enough to be able to practice the techniques until your next session. This can be a very powerful learning technique! The important thing is to plan out and schedule your training. When you schedule something, you are far more likely to actually do it.

3) Take notes - the mind reacts far more effectively when you combine training methods. Reading is one method and reinforcing something by taking notes and actually writing down the information can be very effective. Also, by taking notes, you create an additonal resource full of things that are important to you and your situation.

4) Keep you own situation or job in mind - when reding or learning how to do anything, it helps to understand how you can implement the new item into YOUR situation. By finding out how something can help you, you give your mind a reason to learn something. This will keep you motivated and committed to your training.

5) Give yourself a goal - Break yoour training goals down into smaller goals and assign each goal a date that you will accomplish it by. Seeing that date, and committing to it, makes it much easier to stay on track and make corrections if you should fall behind for any reason.

6) Make it Enjoyable! -Look, training should not be a chore or a horrible experience. Design a schedule that fits into your schedule and does not inconvenience you very much. Don't try and cram everything in all at once or do marathon training sessions. that is not the way to learn. Take it slow, really read and undertand what you are readong, and make it a pleasent experience. If you can do that, you will be able to keep going and stay motivated!